Launching a new direct mail campaign can be exciting – but before you press “print,” it’s vital to make sure your data is accurate, compliant, and up to date. Outdated data not only wastes money but can also harm your brand reputation if your mailings reach the wrong people.
At Selectabase, we specialise in helping UK businesses clean, update, and enhance their marketing data before they embark on a campaign. Our easy-to-use services ensure you’re not mailing to deceased contacts, gone-aways, or people registered with the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) – all while helping you target fresh, responsive prospects who match your ideal audience profile.
Here’s how Selectabase can help you make every mailing count.
1. Clean Your Existing Mailing List – and Protect Your Brand
Before any mailing goes out, one of the smartest things you can do is clean your existing database using our EasyCheck service.
EasyCheck screens your existing customer or prospect data against several key UK suppression files, including:
- Bereavement Register – removes names of deceased individuals to prevent distressing bereaved families
- National Change of Address (NCOA) – identifies movers so your records stay current
- Mailing Preference Service (MPS) – filters out people who’ve opted out of receiving marketing mail
Cleaning your data helps you stay compliant with GDPR and PECR regulations, reduces complaints, and protects your brand image. Sending mail to someone who has passed away can be deeply upsetting for relatives – and something no reputable business would ever want to do.
With EasyCheck, you can demonstrate due diligence and show that your organisation takes data responsibility seriously. It’s quick, affordable, and available for both business and consumer data.
2. Save Money by Avoiding Undeliverable or Inappropriate Mailings
Every undeliverable letter costs you money in print, stationery, fulfilment, and postage. If you’re sending 10,000 letters, even a small percentage of inaccurate addresses adds up fast.
By cleaning your file before mailing, you’ll only reach people who are still at the address, still contactable, and still relevant to your campaign. That means fewer wasted envelopes, fewer wasted postage stamps, and a better ROI on your campaign overall.
For bulk direct mailers, this can mean hundreds or even thousands of pounds saved on postage alone. And because Selectabase works directly with Royal Mail and Experian data partners, you’ll benefit from the most accurate and regularly updated suppression files available in the UK.
3. Target New, Responsive Audiences with Fresh Data
Once your old data is clean, Selectabase can help you take things a step further. Using our Prospect Download Consumer and Prospect Download Business tools, you can access millions of up-to-date, GDPR-compliant records of consumers and businesses throughout the UK.
You can profile and purchase new data lists based on:
- Age, gender, and marital status
- Home ownership and household income
- Experian Mosaic groups and lifestyle indicators
- Location, industry, turnover, or employee size (for business data)
This means you can build highly targeted campaigns that reach the right people, in the right locations, with the right message. Whether you’re sending out a promotional offer, a fundraising appeal, or a service renewal reminder, Selectabase helps you identify the most promising audiences – and cut through the noise with direct mail that gets noticed.
The Smarter Way to Run Your Next Direct Mail Campaign
By combining data cleaning, suppression checks, and fresh, targeted prospect data, Selectabase gives you everything you need to run a responsible, cost-effective, and compliant direct mail campaign from start to finish.
- Avoid upsetting bereaved relatives
- Save money by eliminating waste
- Stay fully GDPR and MPS compliant
- Target new audiences with confidence
If you’d like to find out how clean your database really is, try a free sample check today. Visit www.selectabase.co.uk or call 01304 383838 to speak to our data experts.
